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Southern Marin Scoop - July 2024 |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors in Southern Marin,
I hope you are enjoying the summer. There is a lot happening in District 3, and we want to share the news and updates with you. We are working with the many communities in Southern Marin to actively pursue local issues and make progress on important projects. You will read about some of them below. I and my Aides Doreen Gounard and Jennifer Imbimbo are here to serve you. Our contact information is at the end of the newsletter. Please reach out if we may be of service.
The Strawberry Development Draft Environmental Impact Report is now available for public review and comment. I encourage community members to review and provide feedback on the draft report to ensure all voices are heard.
The Richardson Bay Regional Authority (RBRA) continues to make steady progress assisting those living on the water to transition into housing on land. The number of vessels anchored in the bay has been reduced from 240 in 2016 to 25 in July of this year. Read more about this in the Temporary Housing Review.
Also, please join in honoring the rich history of Marin City with special exhibits at all 10 Marin County Free Library branches. Patrons can experience a view of Black American life during World War II in Marin with a comprehensive exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960).”
In Marin City, the first project in a series of four projects designed to reduce flooding has begun. A temporary pump station is being installed this fall; the pump will move stormwater away from the Drake-Donohue Dr. intersection.
Additionally, a new initiative to enhance digital access and support for older adults and people with disabilities is underway, as the Marin Housing Authority and County of Marin will provide internet connectivity and support to residents in partnership with Xfinity.
I have also been fortunate to attend special community events in recent weeks, including the Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent Commemoration, Marin County Cooperation Team's grand opening of a transitional age youth center in Marin City, touring trails with Marin County Parks and Open Space, and the Marin Community Clinics Summer Solstice Celebration, among others.
In addition to being your County Supervisor, I also sit on various regional boards and commissions, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). In this newsletter, I have shared information about our recent work and the housing bond that will be on the November ballot.
I look forward to seeing you at a variety of upcoming community events, including Tam Valley CSD’s Creekside Friday, National Night Out on August 6, and the Strawberry Recreation District’s Community Night.
Thank you for staying connected and engaged with our community. Your participation and feedback are vital as we work together to improve and enrich our district.
Thank you,
Stephanie
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 In This Edition
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Strawberry Development Draft Environmental Impact Report Available for Public Review and Comment
A draft environmental impact report is now completed and available for public viewing on a proposed development on Marin County’s unincorporated Strawberry peninsula.
The property owner, North Coast Land Holdings, LLC (NCLH), submitted an application for redevelopment of the 127-acre property that was formerly the site of the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, which relocated its students to other campuses in 2015. It would be Marin’s largest private development project in many years.
The Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) has posted a draft environmental impact report (EIR). The proposed project includes construction of a new residential care facility with up to 100 independent and 50 assisted living and memory care apartments for older adults and 336 single- and multi-family residential units that would replace a majority of the existing residential housing. Fifty of the proposed residential units would be reserved as below-market-rate housing.
In addition, North Coast’s proposal includes a 3,000-square-foot preschool and 17,000-square-foot fitness center that would be open to the public. A 15,800 square foot addition is proposed as part of the renovation of the Administration Building, resulting in a 41,000 square foot building. No changes to the educational use of the site are proposed. More than 70% of the former seminary would be preserved as open space, athletic fields, paths, and plazas.
CDA has mailed notices to nearby residents and the public comment period is open through 4 PM on September 16. The comment period has been extended beyond the required 45 days to provide additional time for community and public agency review. Comments can be emailed to CDA’s Environmental Planning Division.
The Marin County Planning Commission will host a public hearing on the draft EIR on September 9, wherein members of the public are invited to attend and submit oral and written comments on the adequacy of the EIR. Meanwhile, CDA staff will gather public comments received before then and share them with the Planning Commission prior to the September 9 meeting. MORE INFO
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Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) Temporary Housing Program Cites Improvements in Vessel Removal, Participant Housing and Recreation Opportunities on Richardson Bay
A review of the Richardson Bay Regional Agency’s (RBRA) Temporary Supportive Housing Program noted the success of the initiative’s aim to find secure housing for program participants, and remove illegally anchored vessels from the water, while increasing space and recreation opportunities on Richardson Bay.
The Temporary Supportive Housing Program was developed as a result of the 2021 agreement between RBRA and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, agreeing that illegally anchored vessels would be removed from Richardson Bay by October 2026. In 2016, there were 240 such boaters, known as “anchor-outs.” Now, there are about 25 boats on the bay, according to an agency report.
Upon nearing the end of its first year, the RBRA Temporary Housing Program is on a trajectory to relocate into housing persons from approximately 30 vessels on Richardson Bay by the end of the program’s three-year duration. At the time of this writing, a total of 14 persons have utilized 13 vouchers that fund housing, with support services, for a 12-month period. In addition, there have been three federally-subsidized permanent vouchers issued to participants at the end of the initial 12-month period, replacing the temporary housing support provided through the RBRA program.
A total of 13 vessels owned by persons using those vouchers are no longer anchored on Richardson Bay; 12 were removed in cooperation with RBRA and one was moved by the vessel owner into a boat slip. As of June 2024, there are 25-29 individuals on 25 vessels currently on the bay who RBRA has identified as eligible in the initial tier to apply for enrollment in the temporary housing program. Of those who remain, seven persons on six vessels are in the enrollment or rental process.
With the help of $3 million in state funds secured by State Senator Mike McGuire, the RBRA was able to establish its housing voucher program last year, allowing boaters previously living on the water to move into safe, secure housing on land. The RBRA manages the program in collaboration with the Marin Housing Authority, Marin Health and Human Services, and Episcopal Community Services. MORE INFO
Richardson Bay agency gets more time to house boaters
Editorial: Richardson Bay housing program is working for ‘anchor-outs
Richardson Bay housing program eases ‘anchor-outs’ ashore
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Marin County Library Branches to Celebrate Marin City History
From July 1 through September 30, Marin County Free Library patrons can experience a view of Black American life during World War II in Marin with a comprehensive exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960).”
All 10 branches of the library system will host a unique display of photographs, keepsakes, and personal remembrances from Black shipyard workers and their families that feature the journey of many families and individuals from the Jim Crow South to Marin City. Patrons are encouraged to visit various branches to view each exhibit.
Marin City, a vibrant and diverse community between Sausalito and Mill Valley, traces its roots to the onset of World War II and the Marinship manufacturing operations. Families from all over the United States came west to work at various shipyards in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Marin City was developed as temporary workforce housing for Marinship.
View ABC 7 News Story on Exhibit
MORE INFO
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Portable Pump Station to be Installedin Marin City
The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District has awarded a $1.37 million construction contract for the underground components of a portable pump station in Marin City. The underground work is expected to start shortly after Labor Day and the project is expected to be completed by mid-winter. The completion will mark the first implementation in a series of new flood risk reduction infrastructure planned for Marin City.
The portable pump station project is designed to reduce the severity of localized flooding along Donahue Street, a key thoroughfare in the unincorporated neighborhood that has been chronically impacted by roadway flooding during storms and high tides. The total estimated cost of the project is $2.5 million, including the $1.37 million in underground work, which is funded under the Flood Zone 3 (Richardson Bay) budget. The project is supported with state funding secured by State Senator Mike McGuire and administered by the Transportation Authority of Marin.
Marin City, which is adjacent to Richardson Bay, often becomes flooded during heavy storms, especially when those storms coincide with high tides. The localized flooding impacts Donahue Street and impedes access to the Highway 101 ramps, restricting mobility for Marin City residents and visitors who must wait until the stormwater slowly drains out to Richardson Bay after a storm.
This project includes constructing two temporary, underground sumps with two trailer-mounted portable pumps, and connecting the existing storm drainage system along Donahue Street to the sumps via new drainage structures and pipes. MORE INFO
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Marin Housing Authority and County of Marin to Provide Internet Connectivity and Support to Marin Housing Authority Residents Serving Older Adults and People with Disabilities
 At Tuesday’s Marin Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting, the Marin Housing Authority (MHA) and the County of Marin Information Services and Technology (IST) Department executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the terms of a collaboration to complete a digital divide project which will provide two years of free broadband speed Internet service, an electronic device to access the Internet, and two years of free training and support to approximately 200 residents at five MHA public housing sites serving older adults and people with disabilities in Novato, San Rafael, and Mill Valley. The collaborative project also includes Marin County Free Library and Xfinity Comcast.
The IST Department received funding by way of an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant to cover payment equal to two years of broadband speed Internet service from Xfinity Comcast, an electronic device, and two years of free training and support for interested residents at the Casa Nova, Golden Hinde, Venetia Oaks, Kruger Pines, and Homestead Terrace sites.
The cost of two years broadband Internet service, electronic devices with a two-year warranty, and two years of free training and support for interested residents at the five eligible sites will be paid by the County of Marin IST Department.
STAFF REPORT
MOU
District 3 In the News
 Richardson Bay agency gets more time to house boaters
Editorial: Richardson Bay housing program is working for ‘anchor-outs
Richardson Bay housing program eases ‘anchor-outs’ ashore
Marin planners release Strawberry development study
Marin City area flood board mulls stormwater survey
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike path change could start in fall
Marin County’s $815M million budget takes effect
Sausalito sea lion sculpture returns to waterfront
Tiburon open space Martha Property acquisition in final stages
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 It was an honor to attend the Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent Commemoration Ceremony and hear the stories of so many who have worked for years to see the installation of a lifesaving barrier come to fruition. Pictured above, Caltrans District 4 Director Dina El-Tawansy, MTC Commissioner, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Board Member and Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, GGBHTD Board Member Richard Grosboll, and Kymberlyrenee Gamboa. It was also great to see former Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold (pictured above) READ FULL STORY
 The Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution of Appreciation for Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD) Retiring District Engineer Ewa Bauer-Furbush. Bauer-Furbush, a Mill Valley resident, began her service to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District on January 12, 1995 as Deputy District Engineer, before being appointed as the 8th Chief Engineer of the District in November 2010, one of five Officers of the District and the first woman in the history of the District to hold these positions. During her career with the District, Bauer-Furbush managed the design and construction of major projects that transformed and improved the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the District’s facilities at bus and ferry divisions. Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and I recognized Ewa (front) alongside District General Manager Denis Mulligan (left) for her incredible work at a recent GGBHTD Board of Directors meeting (photo above). RESOLUTION
 On Monday, I attended the grand opening of a Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Center located at First Missionary Baptist Church in Marin City. The TAY center, a partnership between the Church and the Marin County Cooperation Team (MCCT), features a computer lab, TVs, food, drinks, games, lounge areas and much more. MCCT also provided updates regarding existing TAY programs, including the Vision Project, Youth Action Board, and Case Management/Outreach. Pictured above with MCCT Executive Director Jahmeer Reynolds, Aide Doreen Gounard and Supervisor Mary Sackett.
 Marin County Parks and Open Space Director Max Korten and Senior Open Space Planner Jon Campo gave me and my Aide Doreen Gounard a walking tour of the Eagle Rock Trail realignment in the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Preserve. The road and trail crew continues making progress on building bridges and extending the trail as planned. MORE INFO
Marin Community Clinics Summer Solstice Celebration
 Earlier this summer, I enjoyed the Summer Solstice Celebration honoring Marin Community Clinics' 2024 Community Health Champions Susan and Dennis Gilardi as well as longtime Aide Susannah Clark, who has made remarkable contributions to the organization through her extensive civic engagement and leadership. Susannah’s dedication to public service and her efforts in supporting healthcare, education, and public safety have made a lasting impact on our community. Pictured (from left) with Cyno Bryant, retired Aide to the late Supervisor Hal Brown, Aide Doreen Gounard, Aide Jen Imbimbo and Clark.
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Creekside Fridays at the Tam Valley Community Center
Marin County Sheriff's Office National Night Out, August 6
On Tuesday evening, August 6th, 2024, neighborhoods throughout Southern Marin are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “41st Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime prevention event.
Residents in neighborhoods throughout Southern Marin and across the nation are asked to spend the evening with neighbors and members of the Marin County Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement. Many neighborhoods will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, contests, youth activities, and more. This is a night to send a powerful message about neighborhood unity, crime prevention awareness, safety, and police-community partnerships. Stay tuned to the Marin County Sheriff's Office Facebook pagefor details.
Hearth & Student Health Day in Marin City, Aug. 8
Strawberry Community Night, August 20
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Housing Bond to Appear on Bay Area Ballots
A housing bond measure designed to address the San Francisco Bay Area’s shared housing and homelessness crisis will appear on the November ballot in nine Bay Area counties, including Marin.
The Board of Directors for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority[External] (BAHFA) -- including Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters and Novato City Councilmember Pat Eklund -- voted June 26 to support the ballot measure that would raise $20 billion to build more affordable homes and help keep existing homes affordable. The bond could fund an estimated 72,000 new affordable homes around the Bay Area, more than double what would be possible without a bond.
The counties participating are Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. At the urging of BAHFA, the counties have expressed interest in providing funding for more housing for low-income seniors, local workforce, people without homes, and other low-income residents. If approved, the funding would facilitate the administration and construction of homes for affordable to lower-income households in a housing marketplace that is one of the most expensive in the country.
“Marin has an urgent need for affordable housing,” Moulton-Peters said. “As a result of the region’s housing shortage, we have high rents and home prices that force people to live far from work, increasing traffic and pollution. High housing costs put a major strain on working families, seniors and young people starting out. Too many Marin residents live in overcrowded and unsafe housing, and as a result many of our vital employees and valued community members are leaving the area.” MORE INFO
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 In November 2024, a $20 billion bond measure to build more affordable homes and help keep existing homes affordable will appear on the ballot. Several Marin County advocates and organizations attended a recent Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) meeting to express support for the bond measure. Pictured (from left to right) are members of the Community Land Trust of West Marin (CLAM), Meredith Parnell of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County, Gina Guillemette of Community Action Marin, and Jenny Silva of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (MEHC).
Metropolitan Transportation Commission Seeks Comments on Key Bay Area Transportation Funding Documents
 The Metropolitan Transportation Commission invites input on the Draft 2025 Transportation Improvement Program and the Draft Transportation-Air Quality Conformity Analysis for the 2025 Transportation Improvement Program.
The Draft 2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a funding document that helps implement the public’s policy and investment priorities reflected in Plan Bay Area 2050, the region’s long-range plan. Updated every two years, the TIP reflects the Bay Area’s near-term transportation investment priorities and helps some of the most significant projects and programs become a reality. It includes projects that support all modes of travel, such as transit, highways, bridges, local streets and roads, biking, walking and freight movement.
View and comment on the TIP and the Conformity Analysis online at mtc.ca.gov/TIP
The public comment period for both documents will remain open through 5 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024. MORE INFO
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 Ember Stomp invites residents to learn how we can all prepare for wildfire. This FREE event is fun for the whole family. A “Kids Zone” will feature a magician, face painting, sing-a-longs, and interactive games. The event includes wildfire products and service providers, fire smart landscaping exhibits, and live burn demos. Live music, food trucks, art and firefighting goats and sheep guarantee a good time.
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